Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Navjot Singh Sidhu on hunger strike, Anurag Thakur says 'political tourism'

Demanding arrest of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni's son Ashish Mishra, Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday (October 8) started a hunger strike at late journalist Raman Kashyap's house in Lakhimpur who died in the violence on October 3. After meeting Kashyap's family, Sidhu also slammed the BJP-led UP government, and said, "Nothing is greater than law and justice. But no action is being taken by the state government because the accused is the minister's son. Now the law is different for both, people in power and poor people."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded justice for the Lakhimpur Kheri violence victims as he shared on Twitter a YouTube video showing his and other party leaders' visit to Uttar Pradesh to meet the families of the farmers killed in the incident.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has demanded a probe by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court or a high court into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence and said Union minister Ajay Kumar Mishra, whose son is among those booked, should resign to ensure an impartial probe. Priyanka Gandhi, who had met the families of three of the eight people killed in the violence, told reporters, "In my view and that of the victims' families as well, the case should be probed by a sitting Supreme Court or high court judge, and not the retired judge."

Akhilesh Yadav first travelled to Lakhimpur to meet families of two farmers and the journalist on Thursday (Oct 7) and reached Bahraich on Friday. "This government wants to hide the reality and run the state on the strength of police," the SP chief told reporters after meeting families of the two Bahraich farmers killed in the Lakhimpur violence. He added, "The Uttar Pradesh government has been left with only 100 days now. Remember the date of January 4. All these policemen who are being seen here will change their attitude," Yadav said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lashed out at the Centre over the death of farmers during violence in Lakhimpur Kheri and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure justice for the families of the victims. The AAP leader also demanded that the accused in the case be arrested and that Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra, whose son has been named as accused in the incident, be sacked.

On landing in Lucknow, a Shiromani Akali Dal delegation led by Harsimrat Kaur Badal demanded the sacking of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra and immediate arrest of the accused to dispense justice to the families of farmers killed in Lakhimpur violence. "We demand immediate dismissal of the minister and the arrest of the accused to dispense justice to the families of farmers, who died in Lakhimpur," SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur said at the Lucknow airport, adding, "We are going to share the grief and will help them in whatever way we can."

Meanwhile, with so many politicians visiting Lakhimpur Kheri, BJP's Anurag Thakur was quoted by ANI as saying, "I think some people don't believe in the judicial process. Those who're doing political tourism (in UP over Lakhimpur incident) is unfortunate. Several crime incidents took place in Rajasthan, Punjab & Chhattisgarh but Priyanka & Rahul never visited there."